The Seven Treasures Little Princess Checks the Goods; Ning Rongrong Gets Serious for the First Time

Tang San lowered his head and straightened his cuffs, then fastened the cloth pouch shut.

"I'll endure it, but I'll remember every step."

Yu Xiaogang's expression was taut with resolve as he led him inside.

"The backlash from Blue Silver Grass was inevitable. Now that you've obtained your First Spirit Ring, practice a few more times and you'll find your rhythm again."

Tang San didn't slow his steps as he followed him into the dormitory.

The chipped teacup still sat on the table. Compared with last night in the Soul Hunting Forest, the quiet in the room only made him more restless.

He raised a hand and summoned his Martial Soul. Blue Silver Grass sprang from his palm and wound once around the edge of the wooden table.

The moment the blades emerged, his right wrist went numb.

Tang San paused, then tried again.

This time, he held the Sleeve Arrow mechanism in his palm. As Blue Silver Grass began to coil around the table's corner, he triggered the Sleeve Arrow.

Whoosh.

The tiny arrow skimmed past the blades of grass, but landed half an inch off target.

Tang San stared at the faint mark on the corner of the table, his brows drawn low.

The rhythm of Blue Silver Grass and the Hidden Weapon didn't match.

As soon as he summoned the grass, the Sleeve Arrow had to follow, but his Soul Power was always half a beat behind.

The "adjustment period" Yu Xiaogang had mentioned sounded reassuring, but when he tried it himself, it felt all wrong.

Yu Xiaogang patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't rush. You've only just gained your First Spirit Ring. Everyone needs time to get used to it. You've got a strong foundation. Just tough it out."

Tang San didn't answer. He simply drew Blue Silver Grass back into his palm.

"Mm."

He didn't ask anything else, but the doubts in his heart had already begun to weigh on him.

Meanwhile, Xiao Chenyu's courtyard was bustling.

Wang Sheng stood by the door holding a stack of new tea sets, half a steamed bun still in his mouth. Watching Xiao Chenyu bustle back and forth, moving the tables, he couldn't help speaking up.

"You're working harder than the hired hands outside."

Xiao Chenyu took out the old teapot and replaced it with a new one, then shot Wang Sheng a glare.

"The little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is coming. You expect me to serve her with chipped cups?"

Wang Sheng stuffed the bun into his mouth and answered indistinctly.

"You're laying it on so thick, you're about to hit the ceiling."

Xiao Chenyu kept moving as he held the teacups.

"What the hell would you know? This is called an upgrade."

Wang Sheng nearly burst out laughing. He raised a hand and pointed at the freshly swept stone paving in the courtyard.

"You're like a reed in the wind. Whoever shows up, you'll treat them like royalty."

Xiao Chenyu straightened the tea tray and snorted.

"Enough nonsense. When they get here, watch your mouth."

By the stone table in the courtyard, Xiao Wu sat beside Su Hang, her legs tucked neatly beneath her.

She placed an empty teacup on her side, then casually pushed another one farther away.

"If Ning Rongrong comes, she can only sit across from us."

Su Hang glanced at her.

"You've already assigned the seats?"

Xiao Wu lifted her chin.

"Of course. She can come to talk business, but she's not sitting too close to you."

Su Hang held his teacup and couldn't help smiling.

"Are you protecting me, or guarding your food?"

Xiao Wu immediately laid a hand on his sleeve.

"Both."

As soon as she finished speaking, footsteps sounded outside the courtyard gate.

Ning Rongrong walked in alone, without any guards. A small bag hung from her shoulder, and the Seven Treasures Token was still at her waist.

She looked around at everyone in the courtyard, then let her gaze settle on the stone table.

"I came alone. That should show you enough respect."

Xiao Chenyu hurried over to greet her, bowing so low he nearly doubled over.

"Little Princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, please come in."

Ning Rongrong waved a hand.

"Enough with the flattery. I'm here to check the goods."

Wang Sheng muttered under his breath.

"'Check the goods' sounds weird."

Ning Rongrong couldn't be bothered with him. She walked up to the stone table and looked at Xiao Wu first, then Su Hang, before fixing her gaze on the empty cup in front of her.

"Where do I sit?"

Xiao Wu immediately dragged the stool on her side farther away.

"Over there."

Ning Rongrong raised an eyebrow.

"What if I want to sit closer?"

Xiao Wu set the teapot down by Su Hang's hand with a decisive movement.

"Don't even think about it."

Ning Rongrong didn't back down. She tapped her finger on the table.

"I came here with the Seven Treasures Token, and this is how you treat me?"

Xiao Wu lifted her chin and shot back without hesitation.

"You could bring ten of them. It'd make no difference."

Everyone in the courtyard turned their attention toward them.

Xiao Chenyu could barely keep the tea tray steady, while Wang Sheng was holding back laughter so hard his shoulders shook.

Su Hang set down his teacup and spoke calmly.

"If you two keep arguing, I'll have Xiao Chenyu charge admission at the gate."

Xiao Chenyu immediately straightened up.

"Come on, I haven't even figured out how much to charge yet."

Ning Rongrong glanced at him, pressed her lips together, and stopped arguing with Xiao Wu.

She sat across from them, braced both hands on the table, and brought the conversation back to business.

"The diary mentioned two things."

She tapped the tabletop twice with her fingertip.

"Sausages."

"The sect bleeding."

Xiao Wu had still been watching her closely, but at those two words, the tension in her hand eased a little.

She turned to look at Su Hang without interrupting.

Su Hang picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup.

"You're using those two phrases to test me?"

Ning Rongrong didn't look away. She stared straight at him.

"I want to know whether whoever wrote those things really saw them happen, or was just making things up."

Su Hang didn't answer. He merely pushed his teacup aside and asked her instead,

"Then let me ask you something."

"Who are you most afraid of losing?"

Ning Rongrong's fingers paused, but she didn't lean back.

"No one would dare touch the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Su Hang looked up at her. His words weren't harsh, but they carried a steady weight.

"Even two Titled Douluo can't protect everyone."

The force Ning Rongrong had been holding onto caught in her throat at his words.

She didn't answer immediately. Her hand pressed harder against the Seven Treasures Token on the table.

Xiao Wu saw it and felt her hostility lessen.

She'd been watching Ning Rongrong closely, assuming she'd come to steal her place. But that moment had revealed something else.

The little princess was truly afraid.

After a while, Ning Rongrong straightened up, still putting on her defiant act.

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has Sword Grandpa, Bone Grandpa, and my father."

"Anyone who dares come after us will regret it."

Su Hang turned his teacup halfway around, his tone still even.

"But what if the people who come can split apart the few people who matter most to you?"

Ning Rongrong's fingers stilled. She looked up at him.

Su Hang didn't give her a chance to catch her breath. He pressed on.

"That stubbornness written all over your face won't help when something really happens."

"If you truly want to verify the diary, don't just fixate on sausages and bloodshed."

"You should be asking who you're most afraid will leave first."

The courtyard fell truly quiet.

Ning Rongrong's hand rested on the Seven Treasures Token without moving.

Her spoiled streak was still there, but Su Hang had knocked a crack into that hard shell.

Xiao Wu looked at her, then at Su Hang. In the end, she swallowed her words and simply tightened her grip on Su Hang's sleeve.

Ning Rongrong stared at the empty cup on the table. After a long while, she finally spoke, her voice much quieter.

"Su Hang, if I trust you, can you make sure my father, Sword Grandpa, and Bone Grandpa all survive?"